Oklahoma CareerTech celebrating Skills Centers’ 50th anniversary
Gov. Kevin Stitt has proclaimed November as Oklahoma CareerTech Skills Centers Month.
The CareerTech Skills Centers School System specializes in the delivery of career and technology education to inmates under the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and to juveniles under the supervision of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
It got its start in February 1971 as the inmate training division of the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education, now the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. We are proud to help these individuals learn the skills they need to transition to jobs and life outside prison.
Learn more about the system in a video, “Life Beyond Bars,” and in a column by State Director Marcie Mack in the Journal Record.
Global Entrepreneurship Week comes to Oklahoma
Oklahoma entrepreneurs will spend a whole week connecting over experiences and resources as a way to support the local economy’s most promising startups.
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2021 will include several events between Nov. 8-14 that both showcase prominent entrepreneurs and share how promising business concepts can grow into the state’s next top businesses. Kristin Garcia, startup specialist of AXIS Powered by Francis Tuttle, will serve as the GEW state coordinator for Oklahoma.
“We’re excited to unite our entrepreneurship communities across the state of Oklahoma to promote business owners and those aspiring to start a business,” Garcia said. “Our hope is that through our GEW Oklahoma 2021 Virtual Kickoff on Nov. 8, we can share the stories of our entrepreneurs while growing and connecting our ecosystem for an inclusive entrepreneurship economic development movement.”
Read more on the CareerTech website.
Mangum residents to vote on tech center annexation
Voters in Mangum will decide this week on annexation into Southwest Technology Center’s district.
If the issue passes, students at Mangum High School will have the opportunity to attend Southwest Tech in Altus for free, and adults would be able to attend with 50 percent off their tuition.
Read more on KSWO’s website.
Metro Tech law enforcement grads receive job offers
Many of the 20 recent graduates of Metro Technology Centers’ Basic Peace Officer Certification Academy, which launched in January, are now working for state police agencies or sheriff’s offices.
The academy’s second class graduated Oct. 29 after completing 16 weeks and earning multiple certifications.
Read more on Metro Tech’s website.
Francis Tuttle student, instructor develop language for success
A Francis Tuttle Technology Center automotive collision repair student and his instructor developed shop-specific sign language to facilitate learning.
The student, Giovanny Perez, worked through course materials with the help of American Sign Language interpreters, but ASL didn’t have translations for all of the program’s parts and procedures. So Perez and instructor Clint Drabek worked together to create their own signs, according to an article in The Journal Record.
Perez, who expects to graduate this year, has already had an interview for a job, the article said.
Read more about how Perez and Drabek worked together on The Journal Record’s website.
NAHB Now promotes careers in skilled trades
The National Association of Home Builders’ news blog, NAHB Now, recently listed 10 reasons parents should advocate for skilled trades careers.
The reasons included cost, potential earnings, benefit packages, job growth and opportunities for all.
Read the list on NAHB Now.
Useful links
Follow us on Twitter at @okcareertech and find us on Facebook at OklahomaCareerTech and on Instagram at oklahomacareertech and read our blog, Oklahoma CareerTech Delivers. Find our podcast at https://www.cthorizon.org/.
For news about Oklahoma’s CareerTech System, subscribe to CareerTech communications.
State Agency Assistance at a Glance
National Center for Research in Career and Technical Education
Never stray from life’s purpose. Refrain from counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. -- Karen Civil
